Cast iron pavement



Feb- 4, 1941'- H. vlssERlNG CAST IRON PAVEMENT Filed May 31, 1938 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,230,506 CAST IRON PAVEMENT' Harry Vissering, Babson Park, Fla., assignor to Interlake Iron Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application May 31, 193s, seria1N0.210,s14

4 Claims.

The invention relates to cast metal pavement. One object of the invention is to provide a 'cast metal pavement in which the metal blocks or plates are supported substantially throughout 5 their entire area by a hard bed between the foundation and the blocks so that comparatively thin wall-thickness will be sufficient to prevent breakage and so that the blocks will be locked and supported against creeping when installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal paving block which is so constructed, supported and reinforced that its weight can be substantially reduced without impairing its strength and durability.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a top perspective of a metal paving block embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the underside of the block. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing several blocks. Fig. 4 is a, perspective illustrating the method of laying the blocks.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a plurality of rectangular blocks 9 of cast iron, usually about 12 inches square, which are adapted to be placed side-by-side to form, a pavement over any desired area of highway or floor. Each block comprises a substantially flat 35 plate I Il, usually about 1%; inch in thickness,

and hollow, conoidal or downwardly divergent annular supports II integral with, and depending from, the bottom face of plate Ill, and symmetrically spaced inwardly of the margins of said 40 plate and sufficient in number to support the block so the plate I8 will remain horizontal. The supports II project downwardly a sufficient distance from the bottom faces of plates I to rest upon a solid concrete foundation I2, and 45 space the bottom faces of plates I0 from the top of the foundation a distance corresponding to the thickness of a bed I8 of plastic material for the blocks. These supports II, by reason of the downward flare, serve as anchors for locking 50 the blocks against vertical separation from the bed I8. The blocks 9 have integral, depending, reinforcing ribs I3 along the margins thereof and in addition have depending intersecting cross ribs I4 and I5 for reinforcing the central portions of the plates I0. The ribs I3, I4 and I5 are usually about 1%; inch in height so as to interlock with the upper Zone of bed I8 .and leave marginal vertical clearance between the foundation I2 and the plates I0. The ribs I3 are interrupted or omitted at the corners of the blocks, as at I6, for the escape of air and excess plastic material in the bed I8 between the foundation I2 and the plates I I). The top faces of the blocks may be provided with anti-skid lugs I9 of any suitable shape or form. The vertical edges 2| around the plates I0 are sloped or inclined upwardly to provide grooves or V-shaped spaces between the blocks for receiving a suitable bituminous or other filler 24 to seal the spaces between the blocks. The vertical edges 20 of ribs I3 are sloped or inclined downwardly to leave V-shaped spaces between the plates I0 of adjacent blocks for the plastic material constituting thevbed I8.

In'laying the pavement, a concrete slab con-l stituting the foundation I2, usually 6 to 8 inches thick, is first laid. The top surface of the slab is laid about 111g inches below the desired level of the floor or pavement. While the concrete is still somewhat green, a bed forming cementitious layer composed of a rich content of Portland cement and sharp sand, slightly more than inch deep, is spread or iiowed on top of the still green concrete slab. The blocks are then pressed or tamped down until the conoidal supports I3 rest on the foundation I2, so that the blocks will be truly level. As each block is pressed or stamped down onto the bed, the cementitious bed forming material fills thevpockets in the conical supports II and completely fills the space around the supports and between the foundation and the bottom faces of plates I0. The ribs I3, I4 and I5 are forced into the bed. The interruptions I6 in the ribs I3 permit air and excess plastic material to escape from beneath the plates I0 so there will be -no air pockets and so that the entire area of the lower faces of the blocks will contact with the plastic bed. The bed being laid on the concrete while the latter is still slightly green, becomes united with the foundation and thus provides a continuously solid support for the plates I0 of the blocks. This makes it possible to use a comparatively thin wall-thickness and to effect a saving of cost and metal without likelihood of breakage from heavy loads. When the bed I8 has hardened, it will be united to the foundation, and the conical supports II will be anchored in the hardened bed and secure the blocks against rising. The ribs I3, I4 and I5 which reinforce the margins and central portions of the plates l 0 of the blocks will be embedded in the bed I8 and additionally lock the blocks against lateral displacement. When the blocks have been laid, Ia plastic filler 24 of bitumen is poured into the V-shaped grooves between the blocks to seal the space between them.

The invention exemplifies a cast iron block pavement in which the blocks are anchored against creepage, are completely supported by a cementitious bed, and are adapted to function efficiently with comparatively thin plates and comparatively light reinforcing ribs.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from rthe spirit and scope of rthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cast iron paving tile comprising a topplate of polygonal contour, downwardy extending and divergent supports integral with, projecting from the bottom face of the plate inwardly of its margins, of sufficient height to rest on the foundation of the pavement, and shaped for vertically interlocking with the mass of a bed, and reinforcing ribs integral with and depending from the margins of the plate, having interruptions therein and of substantially less height than the supports.

2. A cast iron paving tile comprising a topplate of polygonal contour, downwardly extending and divergent conoidal supports integral with, projecting from the bottom-face of the plate inwardly of its margins, of sufficient height to rest on the foundation of the pavement, and having their upper ends closed by the plate, and reinforcing ribs integral with and depending from the margins of the plate, having interruptions therein and of substantially less height than the supports.

3. A cast iron paving tile comprising a topplate of polygonal contour, downwardly extending and divergent supports integral with, projecting from the bottom-face of the plate inwardly of its margins, of suflicient height to rest on the foundation of the pavement, and shaped to interlock with the mass of a bed, and reinforcing ribs integral with and depending from the margins of the plate, having interruptions therein at the corners of the plate and of substantially less height than the supports.

4. A cast iron paving tile comprising a topplate of polygonal contour, downwardly extending and divergent supports integral with, projecting from the bottom-face of the plate inwardly of its margins, of sufficient height to rest on the foundation of the pavement and shaped for vertically interlocking with the mass of a bed, and reinforcing ribs integral with and depending from the margins of the plate, having interruptions therein at the corners of the plate and of substantially less height than the supports, the side-edges of the ribs and plate having upper portions inclined to form a V-shaped groove for receiving a sealing material and lower portions oppositely inclined to receive material in the bed. l

HARRY VISSERING. 

